Israel Plans Evacuation for Citizens Amidst Escalating Ethiopian Conflict

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing plans to evacuate its citizens from northern Ethiopia due to deteriorating security conditions and the resumption of hostilities. The feasibility of any evacuation will be contingent on the on-the-ground situation and the availability of safe passage.

Israeli officials are in contact with citizens in northern Ethiopia, as well as with local authorities and other relevant parties, to assess the situation. The Ministry emphasized that options for extracting citizens from dangerous areas are continuously being evaluated, but no specific plan has been finalized due to the volatile nature of the conflict and security concerns.

Compounding the difficulties is the disruption of air travel. Reports indicate renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, with Tigrayan forces reportedly seizing airports, severely limiting aerial evacuation possibilities from certain regions.

The current escalation is further fueled by the emergence of a new coalition of armed groups. In September, seven factions announced the formation of the "Alliance of Ethiopian Survival Forces," vowing to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The effectiveness and coordination of this alliance remain uncertain.

This latest surge in violence follows the formal conclusion of the Tigray War in November 2022 with the Pretoria Agreement. However, unresolved disputes persist, and the extent to which the conflict will remain localized in the north or spread to other parts of Ethiopia is currently unknown.